Christening / Baptism

To clear up any confusion baptism and christening are both names used for the same service. 

Jesus made it clear that his followers should be baptised and there are many instances in the New Testament of individual people and whole families being baptised once they have come to faith

Jesus himself was baptised in the river Jordan by John the Baptist at the start of his ministry. It is wonderful that you are considering baptism for yourself or for your child and we are happy to welcome you and your family at Jesus Church.

What to expect?

It is important to speak to us at an early stage, before making any plans, to check what dates are available and to make sure there is plenty of time for preparation.

Before the baptism you will have 4 preparation sessions which will be arranged at home or in church to best suit the families involved. At these sessions there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and discuss more about faith as well as the practicalities of the baptism service itself.

Baptism is the first step to becoming a full member of the church and we hope that children who have been baptised will grow in faith and will later choose for themselves to come and be confirmed by the Bishop. For adults who have not been baptised as children, baptism and confirmation can take place at the same service, also after a time of preparation.

Who may be baptised?

Anyone who has not been baptised before who normally attends Jesus Church or who lives in the parish or has a link, eg through grandparents, may be baptised here.

Godparents

It is usual for parents to choose 2, 3 or 4 godparents for their child. Godparents must be baptised – please speak to us if you have any concerns before asking people to be godparents. For adults it is normal to have two sponsors instead. Parents and Godparents together promise to nurture the children in the Christian faith and to encourage them by their prayers and their example.

The Service

By the time the day comes you will be familiar with the service and may even have been present during another baptism so you will feel at home. We do look forward to welcoming all your family on this special day.

There is no charge for baptism but we do take a collection during the service to support the work of the church. You may be interested to know that at Jesus Church we give about 8% of the money we receive to other charities, both local and international.